Hinge for knockdown cabinet

ABSTRACT

In a knockdown cabinet, the side panel is bent along its rear edge to define a laterally projecting, generally J-shaped flange which hooks back inwardly towards the side panel. The hooked portion of this flange interengages the hooked portion of a generally J-shaped retaining flange which projects laterally from the back panel of the cabinet, at a point spaced from its edge. The distance from the retaining flange to the edge of the back panel is approximately the same as the total length of the generally J-shaped flange projecting from the side panel such that when the side panel is opened, the leg of its generally Jshaped flange abuts the back panel and the interengaging hooked portions of the two flanges abut to thereby limit further rotation of the side panel and to provide a neat appearing seam between the side panel and the back panel.

United States Patent 1 McKay HINGE FOR KNOCKDOWN CABINET Robert H.McKay, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Assignee: Steelcase lnc., Grand Rapids, Mich.

Filed: Aug. 25, 1971 Appl. N0.: 174,679

Inventor:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1950 Cookson ..3 12/263 12/1969 Rosenquest ..l60/235 3,733,651 May 22, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT In aknockdown cabinet, the side panel is bent along its rear edge to definea laterally projecting, generally J-shaped flange which hooks backinwardly towards the side panel. The hooked portion of this flangeinterengages the hooked portion of a generally J-shaped retaining flangewhich projects laterally from the back panel of the cabinet, at a pointspaced from its edge. The distance from the retaining flange to the edgeof the back panel is approximately the same as the total length of thegenerally J-shaped flange projecting from the side panel such that whenthe side panel is opened, the leg of its generally J-shaped flange abutsthe back panel and the interengaging hooked portions of the two flangesabut to thereby limit further rotation of the side panel and to providea neat appearing seam between the side panel and the back panel.

14 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures HINGE FOR KNOCKDOWN CABINET BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION The present invention relates to hinges. Morespecifically, the hinge construction of the present invention isparticularly useful for knockdown cabinets.

Knockdown cabinets are designed for shipment in a collapsed form. Thesidewalls of the cabinet are folded downwardly against the back wall ofthe cabinet. Such cabinets employ hinges of one form or another betweenthe sidewalls or side panels and the back wall or panel.

The most popular prior art hinging device for such cabinets employs acurled over, or hook-shaped flange at the rear edge of the sidewallwhich fits in behind a generally L-shaped retaining flange projectingfrom the surface of the back wall. In order to prevent the sidewall fromrotating more than 90, the edge portion of the back wall is bentforwardly to define a forwardly projecting stop flange. This stop flangealso prevents the hook-shaped portion of the side panel from slidinglaterally out from behind the generally L-shaped retaining flange.

While such a hinge has proven extremely successful, it does suffer thedrawback that the forwardly projecting stop flange on the rear walldetracts from the appearance of the cabinet. Specifically, a cabinetwith such a forwardly projecting stop flange simply does not have theneat, trim corner appearance of preassembled cabinets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, the need for aforwardly projecting stop flange on the rear wall is eliminated. In thepresent invention, a generally J-shaped flange projects laterally fromthe rear edge of the side panel and interengages a generally J -shapedflange which projects from the surface of the back wall, at a pointspaced from the edge of the back wall. These flanges are slidablyinterengaged, each hooking into the space between the hook end of theother and the panel from which the other extends. Thus, when the sidepanel is rotated with respect to the back panel, the leg of the sidepanel flange abuts the back panel and the hook portion of the twoflanges abut each other to thereby limit further rotation of the sidepanel.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hingeconstruction for a pair of hingedly joined panels in which rotation ofthe panels with respect to one another is limited by the hingeconstruction itself, rather than by any special flanges. This allows oneto construct a cabinet with a neat, trim appearing seam at the junctionbetween hinged panels and thereby eliminate the unsightly appearance ofaforwardly projecting stop flange.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will beappreciated by reference to the written specification and appendeddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary,cross-sectional view of two hingedly joined panels in a closed position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the two panels in anopen position; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the two panels in an openposition.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the preferred embodiment, the side panel 20 andback panel 40 of a knockdown cabinet 1 are hingedly joined by means of agenerally J -shaped hinge flange 10 projecting laterally from the rearedge of side panel 20 interengaging a generally .l-shaped retainingflange 30 projecting laterally from back panel 40 at a point spaced fromthe edge 41 of back panel 40 (FIGS. 1 and 2). When side panel 20 isrotated from its closed position (FIG. 1), the leg 11 of hinge flange l0abuts back panel 40 and the hook portions of hinge flange 10 andretaining flange 30 abut to thereby limit the degree of rotation of sidepanel 20 with respect to back panel 40 (FIG. 2).

In the preferred embodiment, side panel 20 is constructed of sheetmaterial such as sheet metal. Hinge flange 10 is integrally formed withside panel 20. If side panel 20 is formed by sheet metal, the forming ofhinge flange 10 is accomplished by bending the panel along its rearedge.

Hinge flange 10 includes a leg 11, a generally curved base 12 and a stem13 (FIGS. 1 and 2). Base 12 and stem 13 define the hook portion of hingeflange 10. This hook portion hooks back inwardly towards side panel 20,rather than hooking outwardly away from side panel 20.

Leg 11 and stem 13 of hinge flange 10 are planar and generally parallelin order to provide proper abutting surfaces for back panel 40 and forretaining flange 30 respectively. However, base 12 is generally curved,arching downwardly from the bottom of leg 11 and joining stem 13 at aangle. Leg 11 is actually somewhat shorter than the overall length ofhinge flange 10. The curved base 12 insures freedom of rotation of hingeflange 10 with respect to retaining flange 30. If leg 11 were joined tobase 12 at a right angle, hinge flange 10 and retaining flange 30 wouldrigidly interlock, rather than rotationally interengage.

Back panel 40 is preferably formed of the same material as side panel20, i.e., sheet metal. Preferably, retaining flange 30 is also formed ofsheet metal, although it is not formed integrally with back panel 40.Rather, retaining flange 30 is formed separately of sheet metal and isthen welded to back panel 40.

Retaining flange 30 is also generally .I-shaped, having a leg 31, base32 and stem 33 (FIGS. 1 and 2).'Leg 31 projects laterally from backpanel 40 at a point spaced from edge 41 of back panel 40. The hookportion of retaining flange 30, which is defined by base 32 and stem 33,hooks back inwardly towards back panel 40 in the direction of edge 41.Leg 31 and stem 33 are both planar and generally parallel. Unlike base12 of hinge flange 10, base 32 of retaining flange 30 is planar, andjoins leg 31 and stem 33 at right angles.

While a plurality of retaining flanges 30 could be vertically alignednear the edge of back panel 40, it is preferable that only a singleelongated retaining flange 30 be secured to back panel 40. In fact, itis preferable that retaining flange 30 be formed integrally with areinforcing channel 35 for back panel 40 (FIG. 2). Leg 31 and one sideof channel 35 are joined by an integrally formed mounting portion 34which is welded to back panel 40. This provides the securing means forsecuring retaining flange 30 to back panel 40. Reinforcing channel 3Sterminates at a second mounting portion 36 which is also welded to backpanel 40.

Preferably, the edge 41 of back panel 40 is formed by bending a portionof back panel 40 back onto itself in the form of a generally L-shapedreinforcing flange 50 (FIG. 1). Reinforcing flange 50 includes a leg 51and a base 52. Leg 51 is approximately as long as the distance from leg31 of retaining flange 30 to edge 41 of back panel 40. Thus, base 52 ofreinforcing flange 50 abuts leg 31 of retaining flange 30. Indeed, base52 and leg 31 are rigidly joined together, by means of welding or thelike, and leg 31 of retaining flange 30 is thereby reinforced.Similarly, leg 51 is rigidly joined to back panel 40 to thereby providereinforcement and rigidity to the edge area of back panel 40. Also, thefact that edge 41 is formed by bending over reinforcing flange 50 makesit a smooth and attractive edge and eliminates the need for any sharpedge finishing.

In order to assemble side panel 20 to back panel 40, hinge flange 10 isinserted into one end of retaining flange 30 and is slid lengthwisethereof until the two flanges are slidably interengaged. The hookedportion of each flange hooks into the space between the end of the hookor the end of the stem of the other flange and the panel to which theflange is connected. Thus, hinge flange l hooks into the space betweenthe end of stem 33 and back panel 40 (more specifically, leg 51 ofreinforcing flange S0) and retaining flange 30 hooks into the spacebetween the end of stem 13 and side panel 20.

The dimensional interrelationship of the flanges are important indictating the overall appearance of the junction between side panel 20and back panel 40. Thus, the overall length of hinge flange isapproximately equal to the distance between the edge 41 of back panel 40and the point at which retaining flange 30 is secured to back panel 40(FIG. 2). This insures that the exterior surface of side panel will fallflush with edge 41 of back panel 40. More specifically, the length ofhinge flange 10 is actually slightly less than the aforementioneddistance since base 12 actually abuts base 52 of reinforcing flange 50rather than leg 31 of retaining flange 30. However, since base 52 cangenerically be considered a part of retaining flange 30, the aforesaiddimensional description is in fact accurate.

The distance from the plane of stem 13 to the plane of leg 11 isapproximately equal to the distance between the base 32 of retainingflange and back panel 40 from which retaining flange 30 extends. Thisinsures that rotation of side panel 20 with respect to back panel 40will be limited to 90. As above, it would be more specific to define thedistance between stem 13 and leg 11 as being approximately the same asthe distance between base 32 of retaining flange 30 and leg 51 ofreinforcing flange 50. This is because leg 11 of hinge flange 10actually abuts against leg 51. However, the above dimensionaldescription is generically correct since leg 51 of reinforcing flange 50can properly be considered a part of back panel 40.

Finally, the length of stem 13 of hinge flange 10 is approximately thesame as the distance between leg 31 and stem 33 (i.e., the length ofbase 32) of retaining flange 30. This insures that once side panel 20 isopened with respect to back panel 40, lateral movement of said panel 20with respect to back panel 40 is restricted. Specifically, the length ofstem 13 is slightly less than the aforesaid dimension, since as hasheretofore been described, base 12 of hinge flange 10 actually abutsbase 52 of reinforcing flange 50. However, base 52 can generically beconsidered a part of leg 31 of retaining flange 30, thereby renderingthis dimensional description accurate.

In operation, the interengaging hinge flange 10 and retaining flange 30allow side panel 20 to be closed with respect to back panel 40 (FIG. 1).When side panel 20 is opened, it is pivoted until leg 11 of hinge flange10 comes into abutment with back panel 40, or more specifically, withleg 51 of reinforcing flange 50. Simultaneously, stem 13 of hinge flange10 comes into abutment with base 32 of retaining flange 30, base 12comes into abutment with leg 31, or more specifically with base 52 ofreinforcing flange 50, and the end of stem 13 comes into abutment withstem 33 of retaining flange 30. These abutments totally restrict furtherrotation of side panel 20 in an opening direction.

Thus, the present invention provides a hinge construction for knockdowncabinets and the like in which the hinge construction itself limits theextent of rotation of hinged panels. This provides ajunction between aside panel 20 and a back panel 40 which is neat and trim in appearance,and which gives the cabinet the appearance of one which has beenpre-assembled at the factory (FIG. 3).

Of course, it will be understood that the above is merely a preferredembodiment of the invention and that many changes and alterations can bemade thereof without departing from the spirit and broader aspects ofthe invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows.

1. In a panel connector construction having a first panel hingedlymounted to a second panel, the improvement comprising: a first generallyJ-shaped flange, having a leg with a hook thereon, projecting laterallyfrom the edge of said first panel, said hook including generally a baseand a stem, said stem hooking inwardly towards said panel with itsleading edge being spaced from said panel; a second generally J-shapedflange, having a leg with a hook thereon projecting laterally from saidsecond panel at a point spaced from the edge of said second panel, saidhook including generally a base and a stem; the distance from said baseof said first flange hook to the top of the stem thereof being less thanor equal to the distance from said second panel to said base of saidsecond flange hook; said first and second flanges being slidablyinterengaged, said first flange hooking into the space between the hookend of said second flange and said second panel, and said second flangehooking into the space between the hook end of said first flange andsaid first panel; the distance from said leg of said first flange to theplane of said stem of said first flange being approximately the same asthe length of said leg of said second flange such that when said firstpanel is rotated with respect to said second panel, said leg of saidfirst flange abuts said second panel and said stem of said first flangeabuts generally said base of said second flange to thereby limit furtherrotation of said first and second panels.

2. The panel connector of claim 1 comprising: the distance from said legof said second flange to said stem of said second flange beingapproximately the same as the length of said stem of said first flangewhereby generally the end of said stem of said first flange abuts saidstem of said second flange when generally said base of said first flangeabuts generally said leg of said second flange, thereby preventinglateral movement of said first panel with respect to said second panel.

3. The panel connector of claim 2 comprising: said stem of said firstflange being planar; said leg, base and stem of said second flange beingplanar and being joined at right angles to one another.

4. The panel connector of claim 2 in which the distance from said leg ofsaid second flange to the edge of said second panel is approximately thesame as the distance from said first flange projects from said firstpanel whereby said first and second panels define a corner when rotatedto said 90 position with respect to one another.

5. The panel connector of claim 3 in which the distance from said leg ofsaid second flange to the edge of said second panel is approximately thesame as the distance which said first flange projects from said firstpanel whereby said first and second panels define a corner when rotatedto said 90 position with respect to one another.

6. The panel connector of claim 1 in which the edge of said second panelis formed by bending a portion of said second panel back on itselftowards said second flange, in a generally L-shaped configuration with aleg abutting said second panel and with a base abutting said leg of saidsecond flange and being rigidly secured thereto.

7. The panel connector of claim 4 in which the edge of said second panelis formed by bending a portion of said second panel back on itselftowards said second flange, in a generally L-shaped configuration with aleg abutting said second panel and with a base abutting said leg of saidsecond flange and being rigidly secured thereto.

8. The panel connector of claim 5 in which the edge of said second panelis formed by bending a portion of said second panel back on itselftowards said second flange, in a generally L-shaped configuration with aleg abutting said second panel and with a base abutting said leg of saidsecond flange and being rigidly secured thereto.

9. The panel connector of claim 4 in which said base of said firstflange is curved, arching from its junction with said leg to a generallyright angle junction with said stem.

10. The panel connector of claim 5 in which said base of said firstflange is curved, arching from its junction with said leg to a generallyright angle junction with said stem.

11. The panel connector of claim 8 in which said base of said firstflange is curved, arching from its junction with said leg to a generallyright angle junction with said stem.

12. In a panel connector construction having a first sheet metal panelhingedly joined to a second sheet metal panel, the improvementcomprising: said first panel being bent along its edge to define a firstgenerally J-shaped flange, having a leg, base, and stem, projectinglaterally from said first panel, said base and said stern being bentinwardly back towards said first panel; a second generally J-shapedsheet metal flange having a leg, a base, and a stem, projectinglaterally from said second panel and being secured thereto at a pointspaced from the edge of the said second panel; the distance from saidbase of said first flange hook to the top of the stem thereof being lessthan or equal to the distance from said second panel to said base ofsaid second flange hook; said first and second flanges being slidablyinterengaged, said first flange hooking into the space between the stemof said second flange and said second panel; said second flange hookinginto the space between the stem of said first flange and said firstpanel; the distance from said leg of said first flange to the plane ofsaid stern of said first flange being approximately the same as thedistance which said second flange projects from said second panel suchthat when said first panel is rotated with respect to said second panel,said leg of said first flange abuts said second panel and said stem ofsaid first flange abuts generally said base of said second flange tothereby limit further rotation of said first and second panels; thedistance from said leg of said second flange to said stem of said secondflange being approximately the same as the length of said stem of saidfirst flange; the distance from said leg of said second flange to theedge of said second panel being approximately the same as the distancewhich said first flange projects from said first panel; said stem andsaid leg of said first flange being planar and lying in generallyparallel planes; said leg of said first flange being somewhat shorterthan the overall distance which said first flange projects from saidfirst panel, said base of said first flange being curved, arching fromits junction with said leg to a generally right angle junction with saidstem; said leg, base and stem of said second flange being planar andbeing joined at generally right angles to one another.

13. The panel connector of claim 12 in which the edge of said secondpanel is formed by bending a portion of said second panel back onitself, towards said second flange, to define a generally L-shapedreinforcing flange having a leg and a base; said leg of said retainingflange abutting said second panel and being rigidly secured thereto andsaid base of said retaining flange abutting said leg of said secondflange and being rigidly secured thereto.

14. The panel construction of claim 12 in which said first and secondJ-shaped flanges are oriented with respect to said first and secondpanels respectively such that when said first panel is rotated withrespect to said second panel so that said leg of said first flange abutssaid second panel and said stern of said first flange abuts generallysaid base of said second flange, rotation is limited to approximately

1. In a panel connector construction having a first panel hingedlymounted to a second panel, the improvement comprising: a first generallyJ-shaped flange, having a leg with a hook thereon, projecting laterallyfrom the edge of said first panel, said hook including generally a baseand a stem, said stem hooking inwardly towards said panel with itsleading edge being spaced from said panel; a second generally J-shapedflange, having a leg with a hook thereon projecting laterally from saidsecond panel at a point spaced from the edge of said second panel, saidhook including generally a base and a stem; the distance from said baseof said first flange hook to the top of the stem thereof being less thanor equal to the distance from said second panel to said base of saidsecond flange hook; said first and second flanges being slidablyinterengaged, said first flange hooking into the space between the hookend of said second flange and said second panel, and said second flangehooking into the space between the hook end of said first flange andsaid first panel; the distance from said leg of said first flange to theplane of said stem of said first flange being approximately the same asthe length of said leg of said second flange such that when said firstpanel is rotated with respect to said second panel, said leg of saidfirst flange abuts said second panel and said stem of said first flangeabuts generally said base of said second flange to thereby limit furtherrotation of said first and second panels.
 2. The panel connector ofclaim 1 comprising: the distance from said leg of said second flange tosaid stem of said second flange being approximately the same as thelength of said stem of said first flange whereby generally the end ofsaid stem of said first flange abuts said stem of said second flangewhen generally said base of said first flange abuts generally said legof said second flange, thereby preventing lateral movement of said firstpanel with respect to said second panel.
 3. The panel connector of claim2 comprising: said stem of said first flange being planar; said leg,base and stem of said second flange being planar and being joined atright angles to one another.
 4. The panel connector of claim 2 in whichthe distance from said leg of said second flange to the edge of saidsecond panel is approximately the same as the distance from said firstflange projects from said first panel whereby said first and secondpanels define a corner when rotated to said 90* position with respect toone another.
 5. The panel connector of claim 3 in which the distancefrom said leg of said second flange to the edge of said second panel isapproximately the same as the distance which said first flange projectsfrom said first panel whereby said first and second panels define acorner when rotated to said 90* position with respect to one another. 6.The panel connector of claim 1 in which the edge of said second panel isformed by bending a portion of saId second panel back on itself towardssaid second flange, in a generally L-shaped configuration with a legabutting said second panel and with a base abutting said leg of saidsecond flange and being rigidly secured thereto.
 7. The panel connectorof claim 4 in which the edge of said second panel is formed by bending aportion of said second panel back on itself towards said second flange,in a generally L-shaped configuration with a leg abutting said secondpanel and with a base abutting said leg of said second flange and beingrigidly secured thereto.
 8. The panel connector of claim 5 in which theedge of said second panel is formed by bending a portion of said secondpanel back on itself towards said second flange, in a generally L-shapedconfiguration with a leg abutting said second panel and with a baseabutting said leg of said second flange and being rigidly securedthereto.
 9. The panel connector of claim 4 in which said base of saidfirst flange is curved, arching from its junction with said leg to agenerally right angle junction with said stem.
 10. The panel connectorof claim 5 in which said base of said first flange is curved, archingfrom its junction with said leg to a generally right angle junction withsaid stem.
 11. The panel connector of claim 8 in which said base of saidfirst flange is curved, arching from its junction with said leg to agenerally right angle junction with said stem.
 12. In a panel connectorconstruction having a first sheet metal panel hingedly joined to asecond sheet metal panel, the improvement comprising: said first panelbeing bent along its edge to define a first generally J-shaped flange,having a leg, base, and stem, projecting laterally from said firstpanel, said base and said stem being bent inwardly back towards saidfirst panel; a second generally J-shaped sheet metal flange having aleg, a base, and a stem, projecting laterally from said second panel andbeing secured thereto at a point spaced from the edge of the said secondpanel; the distance from said base of said first flange hook to the topof the stem thereof being less than or equal to the distance from saidsecond panel to said base of said second flange hook; said first andsecond flanges being slidably interengaged, said first flange hookinginto the space between the stem of said second flange and said secondpanel; said second flange hooking into the space between the stem ofsaid first flange and said first panel; the distance from said leg ofsaid first flange to the plane of said stem of said first flange beingapproximately the same as the distance which said second flange projectsfrom said second panel such that when said first panel is rotated withrespect to said second panel, said leg of said first flange abuts saidsecond panel and said stem of said first flange abuts generally saidbase of said second flange to thereby limit further rotation of saidfirst and second panels; the distance from said leg of said secondflange to said stem of said second flange being approximately the sameas the length of said stem of said first flange; the distance from saidleg of said second flange to the edge of said second panel beingapproximately the same as the distance which said first flange projectsfrom said first panel; said stem and said leg of said first flange beingplanar and lying in generally parallel planes; said leg of said firstflange being somewhat shorter than the overall distance which said firstflange projects from said first panel, said base of said first flangebeing curved, arching from its junction with said leg to a generallyright angle junction with said stem; said leg, base and stem of saidsecond flange being planar and being joined at generally right angles toone another.
 13. The panel connector of claim 12 in which the edge ofsaid second panel is formed by bending a portion of said second panelback on itself, towards said second flange, to define a generallyL-shaped reinforcing flange having a leg and a base; said leg of saidretaining flange abutting said second panel and being rigidly securedthereto and said base of said retaining flange abutting said leg of saidsecond flange and being rigidly secured thereto.
 14. The panelconstruction of claim 12 in which said first and second J-shaped flangesare oriented with respect to said first and second panels respectivelysuch that when said first panel is rotated with respect to said secondpanel so that said leg of said first flange abuts said second panel andsaid stem of said first flange abuts generally said base of said secondflange, rotation is limited to approximately 90* .